*McCullers: 5IP, 5H/2ER, 3K:4BB. 52 of his 89 pitches were for strikes. Peacock (2IP, 3K), Devenski (1IP) and Giles (1IP, 1H) held Oakland to one hit and four strikeouts over the last four innings.
McCullers threw 26 changeups (a career-high tied with his last start) to 28 curves. McCullers:
My breaking ball has been a little bit elusive so far this year. I've flashed it at times, but it's hard when you know how to pitch one way and that way is not really there for you....If anyone knows where my curveball's at, I'd like it overnighted to Minute Maid.
Hinch, on Giles getting the game-ending GIDP, one week after getting blown up against the Yankees:
It was nice to see him close out the game, especially under a little bit of duress...He's coming off some emotional outings, and for him to get the ball where he needed, it's nice to see.
Oakland scored their two runs on McCullers' Wild Pitch (he had two) and a sac fly.
*McCullers and the Astros showed Class when McCullers stepped off the mound before Stephen Piscotty's first AB to let the crowd give him a standing ovation. McCullers:
It's tough, man. I feel for him and I feel for his family. From everything I've heard he's an awesome guy. I just wanted him to have some time to be able to come up and have the fans recognize him. I wanted that moment to be his.
Emotional standing O for Stephen's first AB. Then he singled for Gretchen. pic.twitter.com/RvY80qu7Z0— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) May 9, 2018
*George Springer was 2x4 with a walk and 2RBI. Springer's last ten games: 18x45 (.400), 9 RBI.
*Other two-hit games: Gurriel, Marwin. Marwin Gonzalez is 7x14 in his last three games.
*Bregman hit his 3rd home run of the season. He got his 3rd HR in the Astros' 45th game of the season in 2017.
*Seeing as how the bottom of the lineup actually got some hits last night (5-9 in the lineup: 6x20, three runs scored), Hinch is pleased:
The first two games here, we've gotten production out of the bottom of the order and that sets up nicely for the top of the order. When the bottom of the order contributes, it's a complete lineup.
*FanGraphs: The Astros aren't the only team adding spin.
*Speaking of spin rate, it's worth mentioning that the Friday, May 18 pitching matchup is projected to be Tyler Bauer vs. Justin Verlander.
*Now at 47 straight games, Carlos Correa is six games shy of tying Adam Everett's franchise-high errorless streak.
*Over at WTHB, Jayne has a great interview with Corpus 1B Taylor Jones who is...no longer under the radar.
*Couple of notable minor-league transactions yesterday:
-Justin Ferrell was promoted from Buies Creek to Corpus. Ferrell had thrown 16.2IP, 6H/3ER, 24K:4BB.
-JJ Matijevic was promoted from Quad Cities to Buies Creek. Matijevic was hitting .354/.446/.708.
*Brett Adcock was a little more wild last night for Buies Creek, but ran his scoreless IP streak to 17 with 5IP, 2H/0ER, 7K:5BB. Wild West Sheriff Kit Scheetz struck out eight in four perfect innings.
*James Paxton became the first Canadian to throw a no-hitter in Canada. ESPN's David Schoenfield asks if Paxton is for real or not. Having watched him dominate the Astros for three years (which probably means I've watched more Mariners games than all of ESPN's writers combined), yeah, I'd say James Paxton is for real.
*SI: Paxton's no-hitter is a perfect example of modern baseball.
*Charlie Crockett, descendant of David Crockett (NOTE: NOT "DAVY") talked music, race, and Texas. He's playing at the Houston House of Blues Friday night.
*Andre Dawson has owned a funeral home in Florida for ten years.
